CHINA FACTOIDSDid you know that...

Football originated in Zibo, Shandong province and was originally called "cuju" in ancient China. Read more

The ten most widespread rumours in China, decided by an online vote, were revealed by Sun Baoguo, an academic at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, during a gathering in Beijing on Monday.

The event, held by the China Association for Science and Technology, aimed to promote science, reports Chinese news portal China News.

1. Seaweed is made from black plastic bags:

A video circulated on the Internet announced that seaweed which is chewy, smelly and hard to tear is made from black plastic bags. “It's easy to tell seaweed from plastic bags – just boil it. Seaweed softens and gives off a delicious taste,” says Zhong Kai, deputy director at the Food and Nutrition Information Exchange Centre.

2. Dental floss is made from cotton:

Professor Li Chunbao from the Nanjing Agricultural University says the texture of cotton is completely different from dental floss.

3. Microwave ovens may cause cancer:

“Microwave ovens heat food by producing radiation which is absorbed by water molecules in the food and does not make food radioactive," Professor Zhi Xiuyi, from the China Anti-Cancer Association, responds.

4. The more staple foods you eat, the faster you die:

Someone drew this conclusion from a study published in the authoritative British medical journal, The Lancet. After analysing the paper, Chinese nutrition experts said the study itself is outdated as it cites data that dates back 30 years.

5. Behind the Moon, there is nothing:

This rumour was spread to so that humans would not to go to the moon again, as there are aliens behind it. In fact, behind the Moon sits a desolate continent that has been preserved for four billion years, according to planetary scientist Zheng Yongchun.

6. Soybeans cause cancer:

This rumour believes that soy products contain a large amount of phytoestrogens. If the human body fails to absorb these phytoestrogens, the risk of breast cancer can increase.

However, according to Shi Hanping, director of gastrointestinal surgery at Capital Medical University, soybeans, soy nuts and edamame all contain fibre. Furthermore, a diet high in fibre may lower the risk of contracting several forms of cancer.

7. Crabs and persimmons are toxic:

Aquatic biology scientist Chen Liqiao says that only by eating a few kilogrammes of crabs contaminated by arsenic, together with a few kilogrammes of persimmons, can a toxic combination be created. Otherwise, the possibility of poisoning is relatively small.

8. New test can detect various types of cancer in a drop of blood:

Unfortunately, due to the fact that everyone is different, using just one single factor to determine whether someone has cancer is far from enough. Joint testing is always required, according to Chen Wanqing from the National Cancer Center, who refutes this particular rumour.

9. Bone marrow donation may harm the bodies of donors:

Sun Yuan, a member of the Chinese Medical Association, notes that the vast majority (more than 98.5 percent) of marrow donors feel completely recovered within a few weeks.

Only a small percentage (2.4 percent) of donors experience serious complications, due to anaesthetic or damage to bones, nerves or muscles in the hip region.

10. Vaccinations can destroy a child's immune system:

“The vaccines approved by the state have the effect of enhancing human immunity and preventing the human body from being infected by the pathogen. As long as the vaccine is injected according to the procedure of vaccination, it will not cause harm to the human body and will not damage the body's immune system,” Tian Zhigang, chairman of the China Institute of Immunology, states.